Illuminated display device



Feb. 23, 1932. A. APPLEGATE ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Sept. so,1929 Ewwentoz J I I I I I l l l l l l i I l l I I A I I t l I l l IIPatented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED $TATE$ ADDISON APPLEGATE, OF LIBERTY, NEWYORK ILLUMINATED DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed September 30, 1929.

proposed to so dispose the lamps with respect to the sign or member tobe illuminated so that there is a minimum of interference with the lightand consequent absence of shadow effects on the illuminated surface.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a sign wherein thesurface to be displayed is illuminated substantially entirely byreflected light.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sign or advertisingdisplay wherein a lamp is so disposed as to uniformly and equallyilluminate opposite faces of the display device.

A feature of the invention relates to a sign or display device havingcharacteristic displays on opposite faces thereof together with a lampor lamps disposed within the plane of the display device to reduceshadowsor other interference on the surface of the display.

Another feature of the invention relates to a sign or display devicewherein the characteristic display is formed on a relatively thin sheetmember and has opposite faces symmetrically disposed with relation to anilluminating lamp together with means for reflecting the light evenlyand equally on opposite faces of the display.

A further feature of the invention relates to the method of illuminatinga plane surface having characteristic displays on opposite faces thereofby disposing an illuminating lamp in the plane of said surface andreflecting substantially all the light from said device equally onopposite faces of said surface.

A further feature relates to an advertising sign or the like wherein thecharacteristic displays are provided on opposite faces of a thinsheet-like member, said member being disposed within a housing andadapted to be ticularIy the method of illumination which Serial No.396,191.

illuminated substantially without the production of shadows and providedwith an adjustable reflector for controlling the quanicuity of light tobe reflected upon said menu "er. 1 i

A further feature of the invention relates to an advertising signcomprising a relatively thin member carrying with characteristicdisplays on opposite faces thereof a plurality of lamps symmetricallydisposed with relation to said opposite faces, said member and lampsbeing mounted within a housing having one or more walls thereof adaptedto act as reflectors, said walls being adjustable relatively to saidlamps and said display member.

A further feature relates to the organization and arrangement ofelements which go to make up an efficient, economical and readilyassembled sign.

Other objects and advantages not specifically enumerated will beapparent after a consideration of the following description and theappended claims.

While the invention will be disclosed hereinafter as embodied in oneparticular structure of sign or advertising device it will be understoodthat the broad features of the invention are not limited thereto andparmay be applied to any other type of sign.

Accordingly, Figure 1 of the drawings shows a front view in elevation ofa sign constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the sign shown in Fig. l, but taken alongthe line 22 Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawingsthere is shown a sign housing comprising a base portion 1 to which areattached at opposite ends the upright end walls 2 and 3, respectively.The walls 2 and 3 are joined at their upper ends by means of thelongitudinally extending cross-pieces 4 and 5 which may be attached tothe end walls by screws, bolts, or other suitable fastening devices. Thetop of the housing is provided with a V-shaped cover 6 which is adaptedto rest upon the cross-pieces 4 and 5 and is adapted to be fastened tothe end walls, preferably in a removable manner by means of screws orbolts 7.

The above described housing may be fashioned out of any suitablematerial, either wood or metal, depending upon the use to which the signis to be put. The end walls 2 and 3 are provided with respective grooves8 and 9 and the base 1 is also provided near one edge with a groove 10adapted to register with grooves 8 and 9 when the housing is assembled.These grooves are for the purpose of receiving and holding the glasswindow 11.

As will be seen from Fig. 2 a similar set of grooves is provided nearthe opposite edges of the side walls and the base to receive anotherglass window 12. While this particular method of securing the glass inposition lends itself to easy replacement it will be understood that anyother well known manner of holding the glass windows in place may beemployed, for example by using brads, putty, or the like. Each of theend walls 2 and 3 and the base 1 are also provided w1th a similar set ofgrooves, said grooves being provided in the exact center of the saidwalls. One of these grooves 13 in the end wall 2 is shown in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings, it being understood that a similar groove is provided inthe opposite end wall and in the base 1. These centrally positionedgrooves are for the purpose of receiving and positioning the plate 14which carries on opposite faces thereof the characteristic displays oradvertising matter that is to be illuminated. For purposes hereinafterdescribed it is preferred to. make the plate 14 of a thin metal as isconsistent with the required rigidity and use to which the sign is to beput.

Positioned within the interior of the housing top 6 is a relatively thinflexible plate 15 which is substantially V-shaped in section, as shownin Fig. 2. This plate 15 is preferably made, from metal which has aconsiderable degree of springiness sothat said plate normally rests withthe inclined faces thereof resting against the interior wall of the top.6

i and with the angle thereof abutting against the corresponding interiorangle of the top 6. As shown clearly in Fig. 2 the edges 16 and 17 ofplate 15 overhang the upper edge of the respective glass windows 11 and12, there being sufficient space between the edges of the windows andthe top 15 to enable the inclined faces of plate 15 to be adjustedinwardly and outwardly away from the member 14. For the purpose ofeffecting this latter adjustment screws 18 and 19 are threaded into thetop 15 and have their ends abutting against the inclined faces of member15. If the top 15 is of wood any ordinary wood screws may be used forthis purpose. However, if the top is of metal it may be provided with asuitable threaded hole to receive the screw so that as the screw isturned it changes the size of the angle between the sides of member 15.Thus there is shown in Fig. 6 the member 15 in two difi'erent positions,the dotted position representing said member in its innermost adjustmentand the full line position representing an intermediate adjustedposition for said member.

Fastened to the top 15 by suitable screws or bolts 20 is any well knownform of lamp receptacle 21. However, it is to be noted that saidreceptacle is so mounted as to be symmetrically disposed with relationto the member 14 and that the center line of said receptacle ispreferably in the plane of member 14, so that when the lamp 22 isplugged into thereceptacle 21 it is in exact alignment with the member14. In order that the mounting of the receptacle 21 may not interferewith the adjustability of the plate 15 it may be necessary toprovideslots in member 15 through which the fastening screws 20 pass. Inorder that the maximum illumination effects may be produced from thelamp 22 the interior surface of member 15, as well as the interiorsurface of the walls 2 and 3 of the base 1 are preferably painted with asuitable light reflecting material, such as brilliant white paint or thelike. However, it will be understood that the member 15 instead of base1 is likewise reflected to the member 14..

It has been found that there isv a particular position for the member-15wherein the maximum reflection effects are obtained and for this purposethe screws 18 and 19-.are adjusted until such maximum reflection uponthe n1ember 14 occurs, It has'also beenfound that the windows 11 and 12also act somewhat as reflectors onto, the member 14 and that there is anentire absence ofany shadtill ows upon the faces of the display member14. Furthermore, because of the central positioning of the lamps 22 overthe member 14 a single lamp is employed for illuminating both theopposite faces of member 14.

Referring to F i there is shown another modification of the sign andhousing disclosed. in Figs. 1 and 2. In this modification the partswhich are similar to the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2 are represented bythe same designation numerals. However, it will be noted that the top ofthe housing instead of being of wood and provided with a separatereflector is made of metal. The metal top is substantially V-shaped andeach wall of the top is provided with a section 23 which is swingablyattached as by hinges 24 to the central section 25 which is rigidly attached to the end walls in any suitable manner.

The edges 28 of the hinged sections 23 overlie the longitudinallyextending strips 27 corresponding to strips 5 of Fig. 1 and the edges 26are also provided with slots 28 through which pass screws 29 for holdingthe said hinged sections firmly in adjusted position. In order that thesections 23 may be adjusted to vary the angle of reflection as regardsthe light from lamp 22 said sections are provided with adjusting screws18 which have their inner ends abutting against the longitudinal pieces27. Thus, in order to vary the angle of reflection, all that isnecessary is to loosen the screws 29 and to adjust the screws 18 whichcorrespondingly raise or lower the hinged sections 23. The inner surfaceof sections may be highly polished or may be provided with a suitablelight reflecting paint. In the embodiment of Fig. l it will also benoted that the lamp or lamps are positioned in exact alignment with theupper edge of the sign display member l l so that the light is reflectedfrom the inner surface of members 23 equally and uniformly on oppositefaces of the sign as herein above described. In order to enable the signmember 14 to be readily removed and replaced the base 1 of the signhousing is provided with a central longitudinal slot which is inalignment with the slots 13 in the end walls. Pivotally attached to thelower surface of the base 1 are a series of fingers 30 upon which thesign member 14 is adapted to rest. Consequently all that is necessary inorder to remove the member 14 is to swing the fingers 30 out of the wayand allow the member 14-. to drop through the base 1. In this embodimentwe notice therefore that the housing cover performs the double functionof acting as a reflector and also is capable of adjustment. Furthermore,by means of the hinged sections 2-3 access is readily gained to theinterior of the housing so that the lamps 322 may be easily replaced andother parts of the interior inspected. While there has been shown oneparticular structure for enabling the top to be opened to gain access tothe interior it will be understood that other equivalent arrangementsmay be employed. For example, one'side alone of the top maybe hingedorthe hinging may take place along the members 29 without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention..-

1 Referring to Fig. 513116113 is shown another embodiment in which thereflector plates are mounted on the base 1.. In order that thesignmember 14 may rest in the grooved base it maybe necessary to providetwo separate varied, as herein above described. Itwill be obviousthatthe arrangement of Fig. 5 may be .1 used without using therefiectorsin the top of the. housing. In this case the lamps Ql will be positionedbeneath the lower edge of the sign and exactly centrally therewith, asherein above described, soethat the light isreflected upwardly from themembers 31 and 32equally onthe opposite faces of the sign.

It will also be understood that both reflectors may be i used and eithera single 1 set of lamps above thetop of the SlgIlOI' below the sign maybe employed. Furthermore, the sign member 14 may be provided with cutoutportions wherein the lamps :are adapted to be positioned. However, it isfound that when the lamps are positioned directly above the upper edgeof the signcor directly be- ;ncath the lower edge thereof there is amore efficient illumination of the sign and a substantiallyentireabsence of shadow effects.

While specific structures and embodiments are disclosed for carrying outthe features of the invention it will be understood that variousmodifications and changes may be made therein without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by United StatesLetters Patent is: a i

1. In a display device the combination of a very thin plate-like memberhaving a characteristic display on the face thereof, a source of lightadjacent the edge of said member, and an adjustable flexible sheet-likereflector for said light, said reflector being substan tially V-shapedand extending around said edge to reflect the light to opposite faces ofsaid plate-like member.

2. In a display device the combination of an adjustable flexiblereflector, a light source, a very thin display plate having the edgefacing the light source, and a flexible sheet-like member substantiallyVshaped extending around the edge of said display plate.

3. A display device according to claim 2 in which the light source andthe display plate are mounted in alignment with the apex H of theV-shaped reflector.

4. A display deviceaccording to claim 2 in which said reflector isprovided with reflecting members extending on either side of the displayplate, said members being adj ustable angularly with respect to saidplate.

1 5. In a display device the combination of a lamp, a thin plate-likedisplay member having an edge facing said lamp, and an adjustablereflector at opposite edgesof said member, said reflector being offlexible sheet material.

19 6. An illuminated sign comprising a housing, a thin plate-likedisplay member mounted in grooves in the end walls of said housing, alamp mounted within said housing and in the sameplane as that of thedisplay mem- 29 her, and a flexible plate-like reflector attached to theinner surfaceof the housing top. 7. A sign accordingto claim 6 in whichthe reflector is provided with adjusting devices capable of beingadjusted from the exterior of the housing.

8. A sign according toclaim 6 in which the base of the housing isprovided with a slit for removal of the display member, and means forsupporting said member within 30 the housing when the sign is in use.

9. A sign comprising a thin sheet-like member carrying displays onopposite faces, means for illuminating said opposite faces equally anduniformly substantially entirely by re- A flected light, a housing forsaid member having a removable top, a flexible-sheet-metal reflector,and a lamp secured to said top.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 26th day ofSeptember, A. D.

ADDISON APPLEGATE.

